Match Preview

Colombia and Greece have never met at a World Cup Finals although
they did play in New Jersey, prior to USA 1994.

Colombia won the match (2:0) but both teams would be eliminated from
the tournament to follow, at the group stage.

The Match

Colombia will miss the injured Falcao at this tournament although
James Rodriguez may be a revelation as Colombia make their first appearance at a World Cup
Finals since France 1998.

1:0
Colombia took the lead in the sixth minute, after a Juan Cuadrado cross from the right was
dummied and left for Pablo Armero. His grass-cutting shot was then steered towards Orestis
Karnezis' lower right post, thanks to a slight deflection from Kostas Manolas.

Manolas redeemed himself in the 25th minute, but going forward Greece
struggled to find the creative spark needed to get back on level terms; Georgios Samaras
has now gone sixteen matches without a goal.

A couple of the Colombian players tried to encourage their fans to
turn up the volume when the ball went out of play for a corner or throw-in.

Panagiotis Kone tried to curl the ball into the top corner just before
the break, forcing David Ospina to make his first save of the match for Colombia.

Half-time: Colombia 1 - Greece 0

Greece came out after the break looking a little more lively but
Colombia weren't prepared to just sit back either.

Fernando Santos needed to inject a little something extra and soon made the
first substitution; Ioannis Fetfatzidis of Genoa on for Dimitris Salpingidis, who had just
been booked.

2:0
The substitution did little to unsettle Colombia, who extended their lead when Teofilo
Gutierrez stabbed in a low corner that bounced in the middle of the area; after Karnezis
was already making a dive.

Greece needed to make another substitution.

Just before being substituted, Theofanis Gekas headed onto the bar
from a low vantage point, in front of a gaping goal. He would have plenty of time to watch
that over in his mind, or even on the large screen; from the bench.

Colombia prepared to make their own substitution; Alexander Mejia on for Abel
Aguilar.

With twenty minutes left and two goals in front, the South Americans
looked to slow things down and instead of making a double substitution as first intended,
staggered their three changes to drag a little more time out of the clock.

Colombia passed the ball around with ease for the final five
minutes; their fans now united in singing a happy chorus.

3:0
From a quickly-taken free-kick, Colombia walz around the defeated Greeks and James
Rodriguez end the show with a left-footed strike.